IN PICTURES: Princess Anne visits Burnham-on-Crouch during hottest day of the year
Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal, visited The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club (RCYC) in Burnham-on-Crouch, as part of their 150th Anniversary celebrations last Monday (July 18).
Princess Anne, a keen sailor herself, took to the water to watch sailing boats of various shapes and sizes compete for the Acorn Trophy. The trophy itself is 150 years old and represents a unique symbol of the RCYC heritage.
Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Jenny Tolhurst, The Princess Royal met local dignitaries, members, and volunteers before viewing the start of the race. She was then escorted by Club Commodore Phillip Aspinall to view the racing from the water.
The Princess Royal presented the trophy to the winner, 16-year-old Ollie Mears, who raced in a loaned Blaze dinghy.
Princess Anne chatted with Ollie who was pleased to tell her that his father had once won a race sailing with her daughter, Zara Tindall, when they had both been Corinthian Otters, the youth arm of the club.
A spokesperson for the RCYC said: "The visit was the highpoint of a long weekend of special sailing and social events which was enhanced with wall-to-wall sunshine and fresh sea breezes, a perfect combination to celebrate such a significant milestone for the club."
The Corinthian Yacht Club was founded in 1872 and became the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in 1892. It was founded on the principle "to encourage amateur yacht sailing".
The Royal Corinthian has been based in Burnham-on-Crouch since 1892 and has had branches for a few years on the Thames estuary and in Cowes.
